The Key To Combat

Chapter 17

I lift my hand to my face. It's 7:57 PM. I put my hand down and walk out of the bathroom. I stop at the window. I pull the curtains open and look outside. I see Kyscin standing in front of the school. I take a deep breath and Anna waves goodbye from the couch. I let it out and I wave back. As I'm approaching the door Kyscin walks towards me closing the distance. He grabs my hands. "you look beautiful." he says. He looks from my eyes to my lips. He puts his right hand on the bottom of my chin and lifts my face upwards. He presses his lips against mine. He pulls away and hold his right hand in front of me. I put my hand in his and we walk into the building. I see pool to the left and there's a pac man machine on the right. Kyscin stops in between the pool table and the pac man machine. He turns to his right to face me. "So which one do you want to play first?" he asks. I let go of his hand and step forward. On the other side of the double sided staircase there is a ping pong table to the left and a Mario kart machine to the right. "How did you do all this?" I ask. He steps behind me and wraps his arms around my stomach. "I have my ways he says looking at the ping pong table. I'd like to believe he's not that perfect. How would he even carry this stuff all by himself? I look up at him. "Martin." I say. He nods. "yea" he admits, letting go of my body. "Jeremy helped too." he says. I laugh and he turns to the pac man machine. He takes a step forward. I turn my head to the right and put my right hand in his left. He turns to face me. "I thought we were playing what I want to play first?" I tease. He smiles and pans the room from right to left. "Any game you pick in here I'm going to win." he quips landing his eyes on mine and I laugh. I hope my laugh didn't sound supercilous. I can't help that I'm good at everything. I guess that's something else we have in common. We're both competitive. These are my favourite games of course I'm going to be good at them. Although, he's probably just as good but that's alright because I love a challenge. "I can't wait to see your face when you find out that's not true." I snipe. Dola and jeremy walk over and stand in front of us. "Dude I know this is all for your date," he looks from Kyscin to me. "sorry wavi" he looks back at Kyscin. "but can Dola and I please play mario cart?" he begs. I let go of Kyscins hand and walk behind the pool table. "That's cool Jeremy because I'm gonna whoop Kyscin at pool." I say confidently. He looks over to me. He walks to the other side of the pool table. Dola and Jeremy walk over to the ping pong table behind him. "Oh yea wyatt?" he quizzes. "Yea andrews." I say with a cocky smile. I grab the pool cue standing up against the wall to my left. Kyscin grabs the pool cue against the wall to his right. I break and the purle and white stripped ball goes into the right corner pocket in front of him. I send a taunting smile in his direction. He shakes his head. I line my cue up at the corner to my left. The white ball knocks into the orange and white ball which hits the orange ball. The orange ball hits the left side of the table and rolls over to the right. The yellow ball smacks into the red and white ball and it stops, pushing the red and white ball to the end of the table. He rounds the table approaching the pocket to the right of me. He lines up his cue and knocks the orange ball into the middle pocket across from him. He winks at me and smiles. He's so sexy when he's teasing me. but he wont get many chances to do that. He makes his way behind me and over to my left side. Standing in the middle of the table, he lines up his cue. The purple ball smacks against the corner of the middle pocket and rolls over to the other side. "I thought you were good at aiming?" I joke. He looks up at me and laughs. "only when it comes to you." he says sincerely and holds his hands up makng a gesture indicating a bow and arrow. I clutch my chest. "You got me." I say playing along. He smiles making me laugh. I go over to the side he started on. As I make my way over I look over at Dola and Jeremy. Melanie takes two steps towards Jeremy and puts her arm on his right shoulder. Jeremy says something and they both laugh. He reaches over and touches Dola's hair. I think he's getting out a fluff or something but it looks too flirty to be just that. He's going to date Dola and Anna will be heart broken. This is not good. What am I going to tell Anna? Maybe I don't have to tell her anything. Maybe he's just flirty when he's being nice. There's probably nothing going on. I hope for Anna's sake he's just a really friendly guy. A friendly guy who is really attractive. I was right. Anna is afraid Jeremy wont want to only be with one girl. She thinks it's pointless to reveal how she feels if her feelings wont be reciprocated. I line my cue up at the corner closest to the wall. I knock the black ball into the red and white one and it sinks into the top left corner pocket. "Kyscin," I say, lining up my cue by the other corner. " whats up?" he says leaning his body onto his cue. I sink a ball into the middle pocket to my right. "Who does Jeremy like more Dola or melanie?" I inquire. I walk over by the pocket I sunk my last ball into and Kyscin takes two steps back to give me room. "you mean like to date?" he asks, confused. I turn to my right and look at him. "yea." I reply. I sink the yellow and white ball into the opposite middle pocket. "neither of them. Jeremy isn't the 'dating' type." he answers. I stand up. "I thought so." I say looking over at him. He has his hand around Melanies waist. He's flirting with the both of them right in front of each other. I don't understand why neither of them are mad. Not just because his left arm is wrapped around Dola's shoulders and his other arm is wrapped around Melanies waist but he's making them feel wanted when they can clearly see he's a player. I don't know what Anna sees in him but I hope she can snap out of it. He doesn't seem like the right guy for her. I turn towards Kyscin. "Has he ever?" I inquire. I line my cue up aiming at the green and white ball. "Why are you asking?" he says and I can hear the jealousy in his voice. I let out a laugh. How could he possibly think I'm into Jeremy? Especially the way I look at him. I'm never gonna look at anyone the same way I look at him. He has to feel that when we're together. I guess love isn't the strongest emotion, jealousy is. Kysicn knows he has no reason to be jealous of Jeremy and yet he is. Damn. Does he just look sexy wearing any emotion? He's so cute when he clenches his teeth and squints his eyes. I stand up and turn to my right to face him. "Relax. It's Anna, not me." I say closing the gap between us. I look up at him and he leans his lips down onto mine. He lifts his head up and I stare at him. "well then yes, once. She broke his heart." he says. Well that explains the womanizing man I see to my left. He's hurt, I can't be mad at him for being a man. He wants affection without the risk of dating and getting his heart broken again. I feel bad. I misjudged him. Anna probably sees what these other girls can't. A sweet and sensitive man who wants to be loved. It makes me wonder why they can't see it. Are they trying not to see it because they just want a quick fling or they literally just can't see it? How can Anna see it? I was always thinking of ways to get Kyscin to notice me that Anna liking Jeremy could have started years ago. I can't believe I've been this blind. If I wasn't so selfish I could have helped her through what might have been a rough time. I was also too busy admiring Kyscin to notice. I also never noticed how many girls Jeremy actually flirts with. Now that I think about it, none of the girls would ever look at him the way Anna does when she talks about him. So that means Anna is the only one who can really see Jeremy for who he is. She can see deep into his soul unlike any of the other girls. Jeremy doesn't even flirt with Anna how can she feel what he's truly like from such a far distance? He flirts with other girls and they don't feel it. He stays away from Anna but she feels it. The only thing that makes sense to me right now is that he let's her see. He must only want her to see. It's not because they wont allow themselves to see it, it's because *he* wont allow them to. He doesn't want them to see because they aren't Anna. That is so sweet. He showed her the parts of his heart he doesn't show anyone else. He was transparent with her hoping she'll want to be with him and he doesn't flirt with her because it's too emotional for him. He's afraid he'll fall for her harder and get his heart broken again. Jeremy likes Anna! This plan is going to work out better than I thought. Now I know there's going to be a happy ending. I go back to my postition and line up my cue. "Wait. Anna likes Jeremy?" he says. I whip my head towards him. "shhh." I say turning to look at Jeremy who is still busy flirting away. I aim my cue at the green and white ball and hit it into the middle pocket. I walk passed Kyscin who has his mouth wide open in shock. "you just sank 4 in a row." he says walking closely behind me. I laugh. He can't say I didn't warn him. This is my game. I make it to the right bottom pocket with my back to Jeremy. I line up my cue. Kyscin leans down and puts his face in front of mine. I look at him perplexed. "umm that's called cheating." I say pointing back and forth from his face and the pool table. He stands up straight. "Just checking that you're not a robot." he says, slowly taking a step back and gluing his eyes to mine. I nod hesitantly. I line my cue and knock the orange and white ball into the the purple ball which moves it in front of the top right corner pocket. I stand up and follow Kyscin over to the middle pocket next to the wall. He lines up his cue. "That's so sad," I say sincerely. Kyscin hits the purple ball into the corner pocket. "but I know how to cheer him up." I say, giddy. Kyscin stands up and turns to his right to face me. He has a sombre look on his face. "Is there something you want to tell me?" he inquires. I can tell he's joking but somehow it's still turning me on. I bite my lip. "you're really sexy when you're jealous." I say taking a step towards him. He smiles and takes a step towards me closing the gap. "Hey Kyscin." Mike calls from the hallway to the left of the entrance doors. Kyscin turns to his left. Mike is walking over to us with Albert and Joseph. "Mike you finally woke up!" Kyscin jokes. They both laugh. "Very funny. Don't make me kick your ass." Mike jokes pointing at Kyscin from the opposite end of the table. "Not even with my eyes closed." Kyscin quips. Mike laughs and reaches his hand out towards Kyscin. Kyscin claps his hand with Mikes. Albert reaches out his hand and Kyscin claps it. "Kyscin!" Albert says. "Al , what's up?" Kyscin asks. Joseph looks around the main hall then to the pool table and shakes his finger around. He looks at me and Kyscin. "did we interrupt something?" he asks, curious. Kyscin looks at me and smiles, which makes me smile. Kyscin turns his attention to Joseph. "yes, you did." Kyscin replies. Joseph has his mouth open and a surprised look on his face. "My bad bro, sorry Wavi." Jospeh says. Mike and Albert smile at me and Kyscin. Joseph puts his left hand on the left side of his mouth and mouths something to Kyscin while Albert and Mike turn around to their right. Kyscin laughs. "go" he says. Mike turns back and grabs Joseph by the shoulders, spinnng him around. They walk over to Jeremy and the girls. Kyscin turns around and walks to the bottom corner beside the wall. "where were we?" he questions while leaning down and lining up his cue. "we were talking about," I say walking closer to him. "Anna and Jeremy" I whisper. He knocks his red ball against the edge of the middle pocket and it rolls back towards him. He stands up and faces me. "I was talking about the game." he says. "well I'm talking about my best friend." I say. He points his right hand to his left at the table and cocks his head to the left. I look at the table, then back at him and roll my eyes. "fine." I say. I walk behind him and over to the corner pocket furthest from the wall. The white ball rolls into the orange and white ball knocking it into the blue and white ball. The blue and white ball goes into the top right corner pocket. I quickly stretch my cue back again and into the white ball. The white ball knocks the orange and white ball into the same pocket. I walk to the middle pocket looking at the wall stretching my cue back and whipping it into the white ball. The white ball hits the black ball and it rolls straight into the opposite middle pocket. Kyscin walks to the middle pocket across from me and his jaw slightly drops. I stand up and face him. "Done" I say resting the cue on the table. He lets his go and it drops on the floor. "Let's play again." he demands. I walk over to him and face him with my back to the entrance doors. "Kyscin focus. I know how to heal your best friends broken heart." I say slowly, enunciating every word. "you know this? how?" he inquires. I smile. He looks even more confused. "Anna likes Jeremy" I say knowingly. I look over at jeremy. "and Jeremy likes Anna." I say turning my gaze back to him. I raise my hand to my face. "RHI," I call. "Wavina, congratulations on finishing your test." she says. I look over at Jeremy. He's talking to Mike, Albert, Joseph and Ricky. I'm in a hurry, I don't want Jeremy to go to his dorm before Anna can get here. I look back at my wrist. "Thanks RHI, I need you to text Anna. Tell her it's an emergency and I need her to meet me in the bathroom at SOCS." I say quickly. "sure thing Wavina." RHI says sweetly. I put down my hand and look at Kyscin smiling big. "step one comlete." I say, excited. "what's step two?" he asks. I wish he could read me now, like he does when we're skin to skin. "Go over to Jeremy and ask him to play you in ping pong. I'll go to the bathroom and wait for Anna. When she get's here, it's going to be boys vs girls." I say. He looks unsure. He looks over to jeremy and then back at me. "I hope you're right about this." he says. I can't believe he's doubting me. How can he not see it too? It's obvious. Girls 'are' more perceptive than boys but has he not ever caught Jeremy looking at Anna? I couldn't see it because I was more interested in looking at him all day. Was he too busy starring at me all day? I would catch him starring here and there but never so much. Well him and Jeremy have one thing in common, hiding their heart. Boys. I'll never understand them. "I know love Kyscin." I say. He raises his eyebrow. "Just go." I command. I push his chest and he turns around, making his way to jeremy. I turn around and run to my left. I wait in the bathroom for about three minutes and Anna finally walks in. "Hey, what happened? I brought your makeup bag and mints." she says holding up her left hand with my emergency kit in it. "You having one of those days?" she asks. "No I-" I pause. I am never self concious but something inside me wants to make sure I smell as good as I think I do. I know she brought my kit because I told her it was an emergency but since she's here I may as well make sure it's not a fake emergency turned into a real emergency. "haa" I blow my breath into my left hand. Okay we're good. I whip my hand down. "No I'm fine." I tell her. I quickly realize what I said might confuse her. "I mean I'm not fine. My breath is fine but I'm not fine." I say quickly and she looks at me perplexed. Wow lying is harder than I thought. This is why I don't do it. I have to woman up and do it for my best friend. "Kyscin wants to play me in ping pong but... I need a partner." I lie, nodding my head. That was good. It's not really a lie. I would love to play two on two with the boys. Not telling her Jeremy is going to be there is an omission of the truth not a lie. I was looking forward to beating my boyfriend but I have our whole lives to do that. This is probably the only opportunity I'm going to get, to take the contagious worry out of my best friend. I just want her to be happy and there's no way she'll believe that I know Jeremy likes her back. She'll just think I'm telling her that to get her to make a move on him. Not even Kyscin knows how I know. These are the times I enjoy being a genius. I'm always the first to know everything. It's kind of fun because I can choose to keep it to myself or choose to tell whomever I want. "He's really good." I say. Now she's looking at me with a confused expression on her face. "So are you." she says. She got me there. I should've thought this through a little bit more. What do I say to that? "Yea, but with you I'll be better. Come on, you really want to sit in the dorm all night," I say grabbing her hands in mine. "when you could be here with your best friend having a good time?" I inquire. She looks like she wants to smile but I don't know for sure because she turns her head to the right. She is now looking at herself in the mirror. I gently shake her hands and she looks back at me. "please." I beg with a huge smile spread across my face. She smiles. Yes. My plan is working. I hope all of this wasn't for nothing. I don't even want to think about what might happen when they see each other. Neither one of them no the other is coming. This is going to be interesting. I really want them to admit to themselves how they feel about one another but if anything can come out of my plan I hope it's them having a good time together. "Fine." She relents. "yes!" I exclaim pulling her into me and wrapping my arms around her. She laughs and then pulls away looking me in my eyes. "but are you sure Kyscin is okay with playing the two of us all by himself?" she inquires. I'm not even going to try to lie again because I'm no good at it. Also if I told her Jeremy is going to play as his teammate she wouldn't leave this bathroom. "Come and see for yourself." I say walking passed her. I realize she isn't following behind me so I turn around to face her. She gives me a 'what are you up to?' look. I smile and wave my hand towards me gesturing for her to come. She smiles and follows behind me out the door. We approach the table and Jeremy is standing at the end of the ping pong table with his back to us. "hey guys." I say with a smile. Jeremy turns around. "hey Wavi." Jeremy says looking at me. Jeremy shifts his head to his right to look at Anna. He looks shocked and I think he might've forgotten how to speak english. It seems like he wants to say something but doesn't know if it's the right word. I look to my left at Anna and she smiles at Jeremy. I've never seen Jeremy like this. Probably because I hardly know him. I can just tell by looking at him that he never thought he'd be this close to Anna, ever. Seems like my theory was correct. I smile triumphantly looking back and forth from Anna and Jeremy. "Hi." Anna says. Jeremy smiles. "Hi." he replies, remembering how to speak. Kyscin walks over and stands on Jeremy's right side. Anna and Jeremy can't take their eyes off of each other and I couldn't be more happy. I didn't know they liked each other this much. Watching them stare deep into each others eyes, seems like it's been a long time coming. This is so romantic I almost don't even want to play the game. Kyscin looks from Jeremy to me and I still have a huge triumphant smile on my face. "So are we gonna play or what?" he inquires. He looks at Anna and then at Jeremy. "Actually Kyscin," I say walkin over to Kyscin. I grab his right hand and walk to the other end of the pool table. I look to my right and smile at Anna and Jeremy. I look back at Kyscin. "My stomach hurts, I think we should play a sit down game, like mario kart." I say. He looks over to Jeremy and Anna and smiles. He turns around and we head over to the Mario Kart machine. I look to my right and see that Jeremy and Anna are leaning against the ping pong table. Anna has her head down in her lap and Jeremy leans over to her. Anna looks to her left at Jeremy and I can see that she's nervous, thinking he's going to kiss her. He whispers something in her ear and she laughs shyly. Anna puts her left hand on the left side of her mouth and leans into Jeremys left ear. Jeremy leans to his left and kisses Anna gently on her lips. I'm so happy she's happy. We're all going to have a great four years together. I'm so excited for what's to come. I look over to Lynn playing pool with Priya, Mira, Dola and Melanie. Even Lynn wont ruin this for me. Whatever her problem is with me, I'm not going to let it get in the way of my happiness. I look over to Kyscin and smile. "you did it." he says. I look up to my right, fake thinking. I look back at him. "I did, didn't I?" I ask rhetorically. Kyscin laughs and puts his right arm around my shoulders. "I hope you don't mind that everyone came to play." he says sweetly. Looking up at everyone around the hall. I look around and finally realize how many more people came in here. I didn't notice everyone file in. I usually don't notice much when I'm with Kyscin, he takes all of my attention. I only care to give it to him. Sometimes it's not intentional. Anna having Jeremy might not just be good for her happiness but our friendship as well. She might've been right about Kyscin getting all of my attention and it being taken from her. I can't really say anything with one hundred percent assurity but I know I would make time to give my best friend my attention. There's no way I would leave Anna for Kyscin everytime. I wouldn't be able to live without my best friend for too long. No one relationship would've been stronger than the other. I feel like there are times you need to be with your boyfriend and times you need to be with your best friend. Even though I know mine and Annas relationship is strong enough to handle anything, I'm happy neither of us had to find out through experience. I smile. "I don't care who's around when we're together, I'll always feel like it's just me and you." I say. His arm moves from my right shoulder to the left side of my neck. "I was thinking the exact same thing." he says leaning into me. I lean forward and put my hands on the sides of his face. Our lips gently touch and we stay like that for five seconds. Kissing Kyscin still feels like the first time.